Chapter 8: Ambush at the Acres
“Everypony” calls out Ember as he, Illidan and Princess Luna walked out into the barn “It’s about time we leave, I promise all will be explained when we leave”
Most the ponies grabbed their saddle bags, but one small Pegasus filly didn’t move “Hey…Where’s Rainbow Dash and Shadow Flare?”
Ember sighs, knowing it would be hard to get her to leave “They’re waiting for us Scootaloo, I promise” This lie make the filly quickly run off into the other room.
“That was a lie Sugarcube” says Applejack simply as she closes the door.
“Yes, but they can’t know what has happened”
“What’s happened? Ya know something, and know I want ya to tell us”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Now my pets, with these magical trackers on you, you’ll have to stay close to me” says Dusk as her spell finishes on the 2 pegasi standing before her, neither replied.
“Come now, we have things to do. And don’t forget what happens if you even think of disobeying me” and with that Dusk walked out towards the front door, the two pegasi following her. Dusk exited the cloud mansion and teleported to the ground, where the pegasi quickly flew down, staying within close proximity to her. Dusk spotted a large team of earth ponies, 50 strong. All of them were grey, like they were mimicking that of the former Shadow Flare and Rainbow Dash.
Dusk walked up to the leader of the ponies, Battle Armour. He was an extremely strong Earth pony, with a silver coat and light blue mane. His eyes practically glowed orange as he saluted.
“Ma’am!”
Dusk simply nods in response “Commander, I assume this is our attack force?”
“Roger that Ma’am. I have told each of them our targets, they should do their job adequately”
She took a step forwards “Should? You have doubts?”
“Honestly Ma’am? Yes, despite that we have….Aquired two of our thirteen targets, the remaining will not be easy. The Pegasi could easily fly off, and with this Ember character being who we think he is, it will not be easy”
“Oh really? And Ember is who?”
Battle Armour looked at sheepishly “Well, if what we read is correct, he is Luna’s top operative and spy”
Dusk looked in slight shock at him “You mean to say that the traitor Luna’s student is here?”
“Yes, and these things won’t over power him, even if there were millions of them”
Dusk looked at him unimpressed “Are you saying they’re that weak? If this made it back to the…..” Dusk never got to finish her sentence.
“NO! I’m saying that with only 50 of them, we have little chance of capturing them! They are all rallied in the same spot, the farm”
“Then let’s get moving, come my pets. We will go our own way” and with that Dusk, Traitor and Abomination walked off, in the direction of the farm. Battle turned around to face the ponies These shells “Listen up! We are to move through the town until we arrive at Sweet Apple Acres, where all 10 off our targets are all waiting. I want them alive, but that doesn’t mean you should be gentle” and with that, Battle Armour led his force towards the town, and the farm.
“So, Twilight’s evil?” says Pinkie Pie in disbelief.
“I’m afraid so” confirms Luna “I can explain in more detail about what happened in Canterlot, and what happened to her when we get into a safe place”
Illidan flew into the barn “Guys, we have a problem”
Everypony except Luna looked at Illidan “Well?” asked AJ “What ya see?”
“A large group of ponies are on their way here and all of them look grey, just like Shadow and Rainbow. I think they’re comin’ here to attack”
“What!? If those vermin even think about…..”
“Apple Jack, please clam down. I don’t think we could stand up to 50 earth ponies” says Luna “As much as I hate to say it, we have to leave now”
“Where are we planning to go?” asked Rarity.
“Right now? All we can do is run into the forest, back to the old-castle”
“That place? But think about my mane!” Rarity whined.
“Seriously?” asked Stormrage “Twilight’s coming here with a mini army to capture or even kill us, and you’re worried about your mane? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Apple Jack just gave Stormrage a look that told him everything “Wow…we’re doomed”
“Correct, you are” said another voice, all the ponies in the barn turned to face it. There at the rear exit of the barn, stood Twilight Sparkle
No, that’s no Twilight Ember reminded himself Whatever happened to Twilight, that thing has replaced her
“Twilight?” asked Pinkie, her mane deflating slightly.
“No! My name is not Twilight, but Illidan is correct, you are all doomed”
“Twilight, why are ya doing this ta ya friends!?” Apple Jack staring at her.
“Friends? I don’t need friends, I have power and that is all I need to survive. Now, surrender nicely and I won’t kill anypony”
“Twilight, I can’t let you do that” says Ember quietly, walking towards her.
“Ember, did you really think I don’t know who you really are?”
He shrugged “It was worth a shot, but now you know. I don’t have to hold back”
“I would be hurt if you did”
He quickly turns his head “Princess, get them out of here. I’ll keep this thing here”
The princess quickly nods “Good luck” before ushering the 12 remaining ponies out of the barn.
“They’ll never make it, my force is simply to big” Dusk says confidently
“50 Earth ponies won’t stand a chance”
“Who said anything about just earth ponies?”
Ember’s horn started to glow “You…you monster!”
Dusk’s horn started to glow, and a smirk formed on her face “There is no word in our language that can describe what I am. Now, it’s time to die!” and with that Dusk started to attack Ember.
“Come on, let’s go!” says Apple Jack as she heard the fighting start inside her barn.
The group of13 ponies were all running down the path towards the town. They kept going until they saw the group of ponies approaching them.
Luna looked at each of the ponies, most of them were grey all over. But one stood out to her, he was silver with a dark blue mane. He was the only pony actually wearing any armour.
“Well, look what we have here. Princess Luna and the traitors” he smirked as the large force started to surround the mares.
“Who are you?” demanded Luna.
“General Battle Armour, General of all Earth Pony divisions in our new and glorious empire”
“Battle Armour, I don’t know what lies you’ve been fed, but I will give you one last warning. Get out of my way”
He glared at the princess and the 12 other ponies standing behind her “I will do my royal duties, and you will pay with your life”
Luna turned her head to her ponies behind her “You know the route, go quickly” and with that, Apple Jack lead the ground round the army, towards the forest.
“You realise such a sacrifice is pointless? You will be captured now, and they will be soon”
Luna stared at Battle Armour “You have threatened my subject, and you and your lackies will pay”
“Just bring it on, traitor” Battle Armour prepares to charge.
At the entrance of the forest, Apple Jack was also having difficulties, but it wasn’t because they were under attack.
“What’s happenin’ sis? Why is Twilight and all thos’ other ponies tryin’ to hurt us?” asked Apple Bloom, a blank flank still.
“Apple Bloom, right now. We’ve got bigger problems, I’ll explain it later, I promise. Right now we need to get to the castle of the old pony sisters. Come on!” Apple Jack lead the way into the forest, with Illidan covering the back.
Back in the barn house, just after Luna had lead everypony out, chaos erupted. Dusk was about to fire a powerful spell that would have crushed Ember with the pressure of the sun, but he was quicker. He fired a quick barrage of mini fire projectiles that forced Dusk to abandon her attacking spell and raise a barrier around herself. Ember kept up his consistent barrage of fire attacks, hoping to find a break in Dusk’s defences. It became quickly apparent to him that Dusk didn’t have any clear weakness in her shield spell. He knew that, with access to the mana reserves that Twilight had, that his mana would run out long before he would break through the barrier.
Dusk quickly stopped firing his fire missiles and charged his teleportation spell ‘Come on, think! Where do I want to go…..’
Dusk frowned slightly, before it dawned on her, and I don’t mean the sun ‘NO! You will not escape me, you fool!’
She remembered something she’d read in the cloud house of her minion, about shields and their special power. Dusk quickly gathered all the damage her shield had absorbed from Ember’s annoying barrage and, using a simple redirection spell, and fired around 70 fire missiles straight back at Ember.
Ember’s spell was nearly complete when he saw Dusk fire a barrage of missiles that looked familiar to the ones he had fired at her ‘Not familiar, the exact ones I fired at her!’
Dusk smiled as Ember’s own missiles exploded around him, a sadistic smile formed on her face. She walked over to the flaming ground, but saw nothing except the flames.
“What! How…He escaped!” Dusk’s anger escalated into a blood rage, tearing the barn down within seconds. Her screams of anger echoing into Ponyville.